AndhereIsawit，manyways。Inthefirstplace，troublesmustbreakout；andwehadeight-and-twentyricks；countinggrain，andstraw，andhay。Moreover，motherwasgrowingweakaboutriots，andshooting，andburning；andshegatheredthebed-clothesaroundherearseverynight，whenherfeetweretuckedup；andprayednottoawakeuntilmorning。Inthenextplace，muchrebellionthoughwewouldnotownit；ineithersenseoftheverb，to’own’waswhispering，andpluckingskirts，andmakingsigns，amongus。AndtheterroroftheDooneshelpedgreatly；asafruitfultreeoflawlessness，andagoodexcuseforeverybody。Andafterthis——orratherbeforeit，andfirstofallindeedifImuststatethetrueorder——aroseuponmethethoughtofLorna，andhowthesethingswouldaffectherfate。
AndindeedImustadmitthatithadoccurredtomesometimes，orbeensuggestedbyothers，thattheLadyLornahadnotbehavedaltogetherkindly，sinceherdeparturefromamongus。Foralthoughinthosedaysthepostaswecalltheserviceofletter-carrying，whichnowcomeswithintwentymilesofusdidnotextendtoourpartoftheworld，yetitmighthavebeenpossibletoprocureforhireamanwhowouldridepost，ifLornafearedtotrustthepack-horses，orthetroopers，whowenttoandfro。Yetnomessagewhateverhadreachedus；neitheranytokenevenofhersafetyinLondon。Astothislast，however，wehadnomisgivings，havinglearnedfromtheorderlies，morethanonce，thatthewealth，andbeauty，andadventuresofyoungLadyLornaDugalweregreatlytalkedof，bothatcourtandamongthecommonpeople。
Nowridingsadlyhomewards，inthesunsetoftheearlyspring，Iwasmorethanevertouchedwithsorrow，andasenseofbeing，asitwere，abandoned。Andtheweathergrowingquitebeautiful，andsomildthatthetreeswerebudding，andthecattlefullofhappiness，Icouldnotbutthinkofthedifferencebetweentheworldofto-dayandtheworldofthisdaytwelvemonth。Thenallwashowlingdesolation，alltheearthblockedupwithsnow，andalltheairwithbarbsoficeassmallassplinteredneedles，yetglittering，inandout，likestars，andgatheringsouponamaniflonghestayedamongthemthattheybegantoweighhimdowntosleepinessandfrozendeath。Notasignoflifewasmoving，norwasanychangeofview；unlessthewildwindstruckthecrestofsomecolddrift，andbowedit。
Now，ontheotherhand，allwasgood。Theopenpalmofspringwaslaidupontheyieldingofthehills；andeachparticularvalleyseemedtobethegloveforafinger。Andalthoughthesunwaslow，anddippinginthewesternclouds，thegraylightoftheseacameup，andtook，andtaking，toldthespecialtoneofeverything。Allthislayuponmyheart，withoutawordofthinking，spreadinglightandshadowthere，andthesoftdelightofsadness。Nevertheless，Iwoulditwerethesavagesnowaroundme，andthepipingoftherestlesswinds，andthedeathofeverything。ForinthosedaysIhadLorna。
ThenIthoughtofpromisefair；suchasglowedaroundme，wheretheredrocksheldthesun，whenhewasdeparted；andthedistantcragsendeavouredtoretainhismemory。Butaseveningspreadacrossthem，shadingwithasilentfold，allthecolourstoleaway；allremembrancewanedanddied。
’Soithasbeenwithlove，’Ithought，’andwithsimpletruthandwarmth。Themaidhaschosentheglitteringstars，insteadoftheplaindaylight。’
NeverthelessIwouldnotgivein，althoughindeepdespondencyespeciallywhenIpassedtheplacewheremydearfatherhadfoughtinvain，andItriedtoseethingsrightandthenjudgearightaboutthem。This，however，wasmoreeasytoattemptthantoachieve；andbythetimeIcamedownthehill，Iwasnonethewiser。
OnlyIcouldtellmymotherthattheKingwasdeadforsure；andshewouldhavetriedtocry，butforthoughtofhermourning。
Therewasnotamomentforlamenting。AllthemourningmustbereadyifwecaredtobeattheSnowesineight-and-fortyhours：and，althoughitwasSundaynight，mothernowfeelingsureofthething，satupwithLizzie，cuttingpatterns，andstitchingthingsonbrownpaper，andsnipping，andlayingthefashionsdown，andrequestingallopinions，yetwhengiven，scorningthem；insomuchthatIgrewwearyevenoftobaccowhichhadcomfortedmesinceLorna，andprayedhertogoonuntiltheKingshouldbealiveagain。
Thethoughtofthatsoflurriedher——forsheneveryetcouldseeajoke——thatshelaidherscissorsonthetableandsaid，’TheLordforbid，John!afterwhatI
havecutup!’
’Itwouldbejustlikehim，’Ianswered，withaknowingsmile：’Mother，youhadbetterstop。Patternsmaydoverywell；butdon’tcutupanymoregoodstuff。’
’Well，goodlack，Iamafool!Threetablespeggedwithneedles!TheLordinHismercykeepHisMajesty，ifeverHehathgottenhim!’
Bythisdevicewewenttobed；andnotanotherstitchwasstruckuntilthetroopershadoffice-tidingsthattheKingwastrulydead。HencetheSnowesbeatusbyaday；andbotholdBettyandLizzielaidtheblameuponme，asusual。
Almostbeforewehadputoffthemourning，whichasloyalsubjectswekeptfortheKingthreemonthsandaweek；rumoursofdisturbances，ofplottings，andofoutbreakbegantostiramongus。WeheardoffightinginScotland，andbuyingofshipsonthecontinent，andofarmsinDorsetandSomerset；andwekeptourbeaconinreadinesstogivesignalsofalanding；orratherthesoldiersdid。Forwe，havingtrustworthyreportsthattheKinghadbeentohighmasshimselfintheAbbeyofWestminster，makingallthebishopsgowithhim，andalltheguardsinLondon，andthentorturedalltheProtestantswhodaredtowaitoutside，moreoverhadreceivedfromthePopeaflowergrownintheVirginMary’sgarden，andwarrantedtolastforever，weofthemoderateparty，hearingallthisandtentimesasmuch，andhavingnoloveforthissourJames，suchaswehadforthelivelyCharles，werereadytowaitforwhatmighthappen，ratherthancareaboutstoppingit。
Thereforewelistenedtorumoursgladly，andshookourheadswithgravity，andpredicted，everymansomething，butscarceanytwothesame。Nevertheless，inourpart，thingswentonasusual，untilthemiddleofJunewasnigh。Weploughedtheground，andsowedthecorn，andtendedthecattle，andheededeveryonehisneighbour’sbusiness，ascarefullyasheretofore；andtheonlythingthatmovedusmuchwasthatAnniehadababy。Thisbeingaveryfinechildwithblueeyes，andchristened’John’incomplimenttome，andwithmeforhisgodfather，itisnaturaltosupposethatI
thoughtagooddealabouthim；andwhenmotherorLizziewouldaskme，allofasudden，andtreacherously，whenthefireflaredupatsupper-timeforwealwayskeptalittlewoodjustalightinsummer-time，andenoughtomakethepotboil，thenwhentheywouldsaytome，’John，whatareyouthinkingof？Ataword，speak!’Iwouldalwaysanswer，’LittleJohnFaggus’；andsotheymadenomoreofme。
ButwhenIwasdown，onSaturdaythethirteenthofJune，attheblacksmith’sforgebyBrendontown，wheretheLynn-streamrunssoclosethathedipshishorseshoesinit，andwherethenewsisapttocomefirstofalltoourneighbourhoodexceptuponaSunday，whileweweretalkingofthehay-crop，andofagreatsheep-stealer，roundthecornercameamanuponapiebaldhorselookingflaggedandweary。Butseeinghalfadozenofus，young，andbrisk，andhearty，hemadeaflourishwithhishorse，andwavedablueflagvehemently，shoutingwithgreatglory，——
’MonmouthandtheProtestantfaith!MonmouthandnoPopery!Monmouth，thegoodKing’seldestson!Downwiththepoisoningmurderer!Downwiththeblackusurper，andtothedevilwithallpapists!’
’Whyso，thoulittlevarlet？’Iaskedveryquietly；forthemanwastoosmalltoquarrelwith：yetknowingLornatobea’papist，’aswechoosetocallthem——thoughtheymightaswellcallus’kingists，’
aftertheheadofourChurch——Ithoughtthatthisscurvyscampishknavemightshowthemthewaytotheplacehementioned，unlesshiscouragefailedhim。
’Papistyourself，beyou？’saidthefellow，notdaringtoanswermuch：’thentakethis，andreadit。’
Andhehandedmealongrigmarole，whichhecalleda’Declaration’：Isawthatitwasbutaheapoflies，andthrustitintotheblacksmith’sfire，andblewthebellowsthriceatit。Noonedaredattempttostopme，formymoodhadnotbeensweetoflate；andofcoursetheyknewmystrength。
Themanrodeonwithamutteringnoise，havingwonnorecruitsfromus，byforceofmyexample：andhestoppedattheale-housefartherdown，wheretheroadgoesawayfromtheLynn-stream。Someofuswentthitherafteratime，whenourhorseswereshoddenandrasped，foralthoughwemightnotliketheman，wemightbegladofhistidings，whichseemedtobesomethingwonderful。Hehadsetuphisblueflaginthetap-room，andwasteachingeveryone。
’Herecoom’thMaisterJanRidd，’saidthelandlady，beingwellpleasedwiththecallforbeerandcider：
’herhathbeentoLunnon-town，andlivewithinamaileofme。Arlthenewscoomfromthemnowadays，insteadoffromhere，asheroughttodo。IfJanRiddsayitbetrue，Iwilltryalmosttobelaveit。HaththegoodDukelanded，sir？’Andshelookedatmeoverafoamingcup，andblewthefrothoff，andputmorein。
’Ihavenodoubtitistrueenough，’Ianswered，beforedrinking；’andtootrue，MistressPugsley。Manyapoormanwilldie；butnoneshalldiefromourparish，norfromBrendon，ifIcanhelpit。’
AndIknewthatIcouldhelpit；foreveryoneinthoselittleplaceswouldabidebymyadvice；notonlyfromthefameofmyschoolingandlongsojourninLondon，butalsobecauseIhadearnedreputeforbeingvery’slowandsure’：andwithninepeopleoutoftenthisistheverybestrecommendation。Fortheythinkthemselvesmuchbeforeyouinwit，andundernoobligation，butratherconferringafavour，bydoingthethingthatyoudo。Hence，ifIcaredforinfluence——whichmeans，forthemostpart，makingpeopledoone’swill，withoutknowingit——myfirststeptowarditwouldbetobecalled，incommonparlance，’slowbutsure。’
Forthenextfortnightweweredailytroubledwithconflictingrumours，eachmanrelatingwhathedesired，ratherthanwhathehadright，tobelieve。WeweretoldthattheDukehadbeenproclaimedKingofEnglandineverytownofDorsetandofSomerset；thathehadwonagreatbattleatAxminster，andanotheratBridport，andanothersomewhereelse；thatallthewesterncountieshadrisenasonemanforhim，andallthemilitiahadjoinedhisranks；thatTaunton，andBridgwater，andBristowe，wereallmadwithdelight，thetwoformerbeinginhishands，andthelattercravingtobeso。Andthen，ontheotherhand，weheardthattheDukehadbeenvanquished，andputtoflight，anduponbeingapprehended，hadconfessedhimselfanimpostorandapapistasbadastheKingwas。
WelongedforColonelSticklesashealwaysbecameintimeofwar，thoughhefellbacktoCaptain，andevenLieutenant，directlythefightwasover，forthenweshouldhavewontrustynews，aswellasgoodconsideration。ButevenSergeantBloxham，muchagainsthiswill，wasgone，havinglefthisheartwithourLizzie，andacollectionofallhiswritings。AllthesoldiershadbeenorderedawayatfullspeedforExeter，tojointheDukeofAlbemarle，orifheweregone，tofollowhim。Asforus，whohadfedthemsolongalthoughnotquitefornothing，wemusttakeourchanceofDoones，oranyotherenemies。
Nowallthesetidingsmovedmealittle；notenoughtospoilappetite，butenoughtomakethingslively，andtoteachmethatlookofwisdomwhichisbredofpracticeonly，andthehearingofmanylies。ThereforeIwithheldmyjudgment，fearingtobetriumphedover，ifitshouldhappentomissthemark。ButmotherandLizzie，tentimesinaday，predictedalltheycouldimagine；andtheirpropheciesincreasedinstrengthaccordingtocontradiction。Yetthiswasnotintheproperstyleforahouselikeours，whichknewthenews，oratleasthadknownit；andstillwasfamous，allaround，forthelastadvices。EvenfromLynmouth，peoplesentuptoPlover’sBarrowstoaskhowthingsweregoingon：anditwasverygrievoustoanswerthatintruthweknewnot，neitherhadheardfordaysanddays；andourreputationwassogreat，especiallysincethedeathoftheKinghadgoneabroadfromOareparish，thatmanyinquirerswouldonlywink，andlayafingeronthelip，asiftosay，’youknowwellenough，butseenotfittotellme。’Andbeforetheendarrived，thosepeoplebelievedthattheyhadbeenrightallalong，andthatwehadconcealedthetruthfromthem。
ForImyselfbecameinvolvedGodknowshowmuchagainstmywillandmyproperjudgmentinthetroubles，andtheconflict，andthecruelworkcomingafterwards。IfeverIhadmadeupmymindtoanythinginallmylife，itwasatthisparticulartime，andassternandstrongascouldbe。Ihadresolvedtoletthingspass，——tohearaboutthemgladly，toencourageallmyfriendstotalk，andmyselftoexpressopinionuponeachparticularpoint，wheninthefullnessoftimenofurtherdoubtcouldbe。Butallmypolicywentfornothing，throughafewtouchesoffeeling。